THE friends of a missing Cumbrian chef have continued to scour the area for any trace of him.

A search party made up of almost a dozen local people turned out to UIlswater yesterday, to continue the hunt for Thomas McMorrow, who went missing on January 5 after a work Christmas party in Glenridding.

“We’re so grateful to all the people who are helping with the search,” dad, Fergus McMorrow, told the Gazette.

“The more eyes the better. It’s great so many people are still turning out to look for him.”

Mr McMorrow, 26, was last seen at the Inn on the Lake hotel, prompting a major search around Ullswater.

Underwater divers, mountain rescue teams and police officers all combed the area in an effort to find him, but the search was stood down when no trace of him was found.

“We just want to get him home to his family,” said friend, Andy Scantlebury, who helped organise yesterday’s search party.

“If he’s still alive we need to find him.”

Over 1,000 people have joined a Facebook group which is dedicated to the search for Mr McMorrow, who worked as a chef at the George Hotel, Penrith.

"It is so so touching to see so many of you doing so much to find Tom," his mum, Eulyth McMorrow, wrote on the page.

"God bless you all and especially my gorgeous Tom."

This week the Lake District National Park Information Centres in Bowness, Ullswater and Keswick have all displayed posters in case any visitors have seen anything.

And on Sunday BBC DJ and writer, Stuart Maconie, 'retweeted' a call for people to continue the search.

Mr McMorrow, a former Keswick School pupil, is described as 5ft 11ins in height, of slim build, with short brown hair which is receding at the front.

He was last seen wearing blue denim trousers, a long sleeved white shirt and brown shoes.

Anyone who knows of his whereabouts, or who has seen someone matching his description, is urged to call Cumbria Police on 101."